Crafting Effective Asbestos Management Plans: The Consultex Guide
It’s vital to get things right when it comes to managing asbestos in your building. This hazardous material can seriously jeopardise the health of you and your employees, as well as that of any workers who need to do on-site renovations.
Asbestos management plans are staple workplace documents. According to the Health and Safety at Work (Asbestos) Regulations 2016, workplaces must have at least one copy on hand at all times. But the big question is: How do you construct one?
At Consultex, asbestos management is our speciality. Read on to learn more about a workplace’s obligations regarding this cornerstone document and how the Consultex team drives the creation of one.
The Health and Safety at Work (Asbestos) Regulations 2016
In the past, asbestos was used all over New Zealand as a fire-resistant, lightweight building material. However, as soon as it was discovered that asbestos was dangerous to public health in the 1980s, the construction industry and the New Zealand government began to phase it out. Despite this, the unfortunate reality is that many buildings were constructed with either raw asbestos or asbestos-containing materials (ACMs).
Nowadays, asbestos legislation is present and accounted for in nationwide health and safety policies. Every workplace is required, by New Zealand law, to prepare an asbestos management plan for all sites where work is taking place. This was laid out as part of the Health and Safety at Work (Asbestos) Regulations of 2016, obligating persons conducting business (PCBUs) to have these plans ready for their workplaces.
The Role of an Asbestos Management Plan
The question is, what role does an asbestos management plan actually play in keeping workplaces safe? In short, it’s a pre-emptive measure to root out the presence of any asbestos in a building, including in the soil. If asbestos is identified, the plan also lays out how it will be managed, which will vary according to the type, amount, and location.
One of the most important things a plan does is let incoming workers know what they need to be careful of. If there are areas in the business where asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) are present, those areas should be carefully treated using professionally supported techniques to keep everyone safe. This might involve having monitoring systems in place or wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
These plans play a major role in providing recommendations and control measures from a team like Consultex, which specialises in asbestos removal.
What We Include in Our Asbestos Management Plans
Our role as asbestos management experts is to develop a comprehensive, tailored Asbestos Management Plan (AMP) for your site. It’s vital that we include as much accurate information as possible in the plan, using those insights as the foundation for removal or management recommendations.
When constructing AMPs for employers, we work with them to conduct an on-site survey. This includes an in-person consultation, a survey of your premises, and sampling or testing as recommended by our crew. Once done, we’ll assemble a detailed report with the following information:
- Identification
Not only do we identify whether or not asbestos is present, but we also identify where it is on-site. Where applicable, we also identify quantities and types of asbestos to facilitate better management.
- Management
We create recommendations for control measures around the identified asbestos, including safe work procedures.
- Induction
A process to induct incoming contractors and workers into the condition of the building, including considerations for working around asbestos.
- Emergency
Responding to emergencies appropriately is a major part of carrying out asbestos-related activities, so the AMP contains detailed emergency procedures. This includes allocating roles and responsibilities for workers in case exposure occurs.
- Training and health monitoring
Managing asbestos is a long-term game, requiring ongoing training and health monitoring to ensure minimal exposure risk. The watchword here is consistency, which is why documenting these aspects is vital.
The most important thing when dealing with potential asbestos in your building is to be proactive. It can be easy to leave your site untested, unmanaged, and unplanned. However, it’s crucial to do your due diligence and meet your obligations under the regulations with something as insidious as asbestos.
After all, the long-term health effects of asbestos have a long latency period. In other words, it’s very difficult to track whether health issues have come from asbestos exposure or not.
Luckily, crafting this plan for your business doesn’t have to be a scary or difficult process. With experienced asbestos management professionals on your side, creating an asbestos management plan can be rewarding.
Grant yourself peace of mind by knowing you’re compliant with the law while keeping your workplace safe.
Stay safe and compliant with a professional asbestos management plan.
At Consultex, we provide businesses with the asbestos management plans they need to stay compliant and – most importantly – safe. From identifying asbestos materials present on-site to creating specific documentation for your process, we’re at your side every step of the way.
Get in touch with Consultex Environmental to begin creating your asbestos management plan.